Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1887-02-22
W. P. WALTON.
Enn ORAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Millions of koney and Acres Of Pretty wo
men.

many things In washington 70 attract the
attention OF the visitor and so,many subjects
upon which an instructive letter can be
written, that it is more difficult to choose q
subject than TO lad matters OF interest in 9
less favored place. have repeatedly visit
cd this besu,iful city, but never until this
time, had made thorough exploration
Of the building that holds the wealth OF
the government. / therefore gladly &C.
cepted an invitation OF Col Saml. A. Wal
ton, late OF Lancaster, but now chief Of a
division 10 the National Treasury, and who
by the way is exceedingly popular at the
Capital, where all such thoroughbred Ken
tuckians are f&vorites, to show me through
the vast edifce. Its colossal proportions
may be imagined when it is told that a
force Of over $500 men and women are
constantly employed in it, auditing and
paying the claims against the government
The smount Of money and securities which
il contains il stated at over a thousand
millions Of dollars. In one Of the vaults
are kept the bonds to secure the circula'
ton OF National Banks. representing face
value Of $500 100000 and real value
greatly in excess. The gentleman in charge
asked IL / would like 10 zee the bonds Of
any certain bank Thinking first Of the
one in the INTERIOR JOURNAL building, /
called for those of the Farmers National
Bank. In an instant he produced an en-.
yelope and from it drew $4,000, two
$4,000 and a $4,000 bond. The $4,000
was Al per csn.. and he asked "Would
you liks to give S64 900 for thar" "No."
"Well, YOU would have to pay that and
more ia the market to day TO secure one
like H."
The largest vault in the building, which
is also said to be the largest single vault in
the world, is 20 feet long, 40 feet wide and
seven feet high. 1t contains sS2,0OO,0OO
in specie, Of which $59,OOO,0OO are silver
and s25, OOO,O 900 gold. In another vault is
S13.0OOO00 and so on. The men in charge
claim to know to a cent the contents OF
each, though the rpecie is not counted, but
weighed in huge scales, which is said to be
the finest thing Of the kind ever made,
single hair turning its balance, and the
lsast wear OF the dollars showing in the
smallest fractions Of weight. The beholder
Of the vast treasure Of the vaults can fully
realize the meaning OF the lines Thou art
90 near and yet go far" though he can but
feel a little prouder to think that 1t is as
much his as any other single indiyiduafs
Decidedly the most interesting rooms
are those Of the Secret Service Department.
Here are kept for inspection all the bogus
money, dies, tools and other appurtensnces
to the counterfeiter appertaining and the
display Of the ingenuity Of the rascals who
palm off bad money on the unwary, Is
wonderful to contemplate. Millions oil
dollars of their make, both OF notes and OF
coin, are tesped up here and the bulk is be-
ing added to daily, by the expert ladies
who count and examine bank notes. This
work is done entirely by ladies, whose sense
of touch is 80 delicate and that OF sight 80
acute that no counterfeit passes detection
at their hands. The walls OF the rooms
are decorated" with photographs OF the
makers and showers of the 'queer" and in
addition huge album gives the 'phizzes"
of az hard lot as ever served sentences in
peniteniiary.
With money as scarce as il lie in our sec
ton, it seems a woful waste to destroy II by
the hundreds Of thousand dollars worth,
but Large amounts are daily macerated in
the presence Of a committee, to whom is
entrusted the destruction of retired notes,
national bank bills Withdrawn from circu-
iation and mutilated currency. After be-
ing perforated full of holes" and other
wise dis6gured, the notes are placed in a
huge macerator and reduced to pulp which
has been cold principally to makers of card.
board, bat recently crazs has sprung up
to manufacture statdettes Of the President
and "Mrs," President and other distinguish.
ed people and label them, This represents
q value Of 1926, O0O," "This $4,000" and
90 on. They sell at comparatively small
price and are quite lile.liks and unique.
Money was formerly destroyed by burning
but notes would occasionally fly out Of the
chimney or hang in crevices, and to guard
sgainst the possible escape Of single dol
lar the macerstor was brought into use and
il does its work about as effectively as
could be imagined.
There are hundreds OF other things to at
tract the attention and interest, but l must
dssist after expressing my warmest appreoi-
alton OF the many fsvors shown me by my
Cousin SAM" who is the handsonest and
one of the cleverest Of the many Kentuck'
ians at the seat of government.
The ooly Kentucky lady that l met in
the Treasury, and believe the only one
employed there, was Mrs. Agnes Moore, a
charming widow from Coyington, who is
grand daughter Of the late Gov. Huston.
She il az handsome as he is captivating, and
II am not mistaken in the diagnosis OF the
case. Samuel is not proof against her
charms. He'd be adamsnt indeed, II he